The FIFA World Cup 2026 marks a new era for global football, featuring 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The group stage will deliver 72 exciting matches across 16 cities, giving fans a month-long celebration of sport and culture. Here’s a full look at the group stage schedule and fixtures from June 11 to June 27, 2026.
Overview of the Group Stage
The group stage will open on June 11, 2026, at the legendary Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, where the host nation Mexico will kick off the tournament. Each team will play three matches within their group, with top sides advancing to the knockout rounds.
Key features of this stage include:
- 48 teams divided into 12 groups (A–L).
- Top two teams from each group and the best eight third-place teams advance.
- Matches spread across North America’s most iconic stadiums.
Group Stage Schedule and Venues
| Date | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 11 | Mexico vs South Africa | A | Mexico City |
| June 11 | South Korea vs UEFA Playoff D | A | Guadalajara |
| June 12 | Canada vs UEFA Playoff A | B | Toronto |
| June 12 | USA vs Paraguay | D | Los Angeles |
| June 13 | Brazil vs Morocco | C | Boston / New York-New Jersey |
| June 13 | Australia vs UEFA Playoff C | D | Vancouver |
| June 13 | Haiti vs Scotland | C | Boston / New York-New Jersey |
| June 13 | Qatar vs Switzerland | B | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 14 | Germany vs Curaçao | E | Philadelphia / Houston |
| June 14 | Ivory Coast vs Ecuador | E | Philadelphia / Houston |
| June 14 | Netherlands vs Japan | F | Dallas / Monterrey |
| June 14 | UEFA Playoff B vs Tunisia | F | Dallas / Monterrey |
| June 15 | Spain vs Cape Verde | H | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 15 | Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay | H | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 15 | Belgium vs Egypt | G | Los Angeles / Seattle |
| June 15 | Iran vs New Zealand | G | Los Angeles / Seattle |
| June 16 | France vs Senegal | I | New York-New Jersey / Boston |
| June 16 | FIFA Playoff 2 vs Norway | I | New York-New Jersey / Boston |
| June 16 | Argentina vs Algeria | J | Kansas City / San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 16 | Austria vs Jordan | J | Kansas City / San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 17 | England vs Croatia | L | Toronto / Dallas |
| June 17 | Ghana vs Panama | L | Toronto / Dallas |
| June 17 | Portugal vs FIFA Playoff 1 | K | Houston / Mexico City |
| June 17 | Uzbekistan vs Colombia | K | Houston / Mexico City |
| June 18 | UEFA Playoff D vs South Africa | A | Atlanta |
| June 18 | Switzerland vs UEFA Playoff A | A | Los Angeles |
| June 18 | Canada vs Qatar | B | Vancouver |
| June 18 | Mexico vs South Korea | A | Guadalajara |
| June 19 | Brazil vs Haiti | C | Philadelphia / New York-New Jersey |
| June 19 | Scotland vs Morocco | C | Philadelphia / New York-New Jersey |
| June 19 | UEFA Playoff C vs Paraguay | D | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 19 | USA vs Australia | D | Seattle |
| June 20 | Germany vs Ivory Coast | E | Toronto / Kansas City |
| June 20 | Ecuador vs Curaçao | E | Toronto / Kansas City |
| June 20 | Netherlands vs UEFA Playoff B | F | Houston / Monterrey |
| June 20 | Tunisia vs Japan | F | Houston / Monterrey |
| June 21 | Spain vs Saudi Arabia | H | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 21 | Uruguay vs Cape Verde | H | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 21 | Belgium vs Iran | G | Los Angeles / Vancouver |
| June 21 | New Zealand vs Egypt | G | Los Angeles / Vancouver |
| June 22 | France vs FIFA Playoff 2 | I | New York-New Jersey / Philadelphia |
| June 22 | Norway vs Senegal | I | New York-New Jersey / Philadelphia |
| June 22 | Argentina vs Austria | J | Dallas / San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 22 | Jordan vs Algeria | J | Dallas / San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 23 | England vs Ghana | L | Boston / Toronto |
| June 23 | Panama vs Croatia | L | Boston / Toronto |
| June 23 | Portugal vs Uzbekistan | K | Houston / Guadalajara |
| June 23 | Colombia vs FIFA Playoff 1 | K | Houston / Guadalajara |
| June 24 | Scotland vs Brazil | C | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 24 | Morocco vs Haiti | C | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 24 | Canada vs Switzerland | B | Vancouver |
| June 24 | UEFA Playoff A vs Qatar | B | Seattle |
| June 24 | Mexico vs UEFA Playoff D | A | Mexico City |
| June 24 | South Korea vs South Africa | A | Monterrey |
| June 25 | Ecuador vs Germany | E | Philadelphia / New York-New Jersey |
| June 25 | Curaçao vs Ivory Coast | E | Philadelphia / New York-New Jersey |
| June 25 | Tunisia vs Netherlands | F | Dallas / Kansas City |
| June 25 | Japan vs UEFA Playoff B | F | Dallas / Kansas City |
| June 25 | USA vs UEFA Playoff C | D | Los Angeles |
| June 25 | Paraguay vs Australia | D | San Francisco Bay Area |
| June 26 | Norway vs France | I | Boston / Toronto |
| June 26 | Senegal vs FIFA Playoff 2 | I | Boston / Toronto |
| June 26 | New Zealand vs Belgium | G | Seattle / Vancouver |
| June 26 | Egypt vs Iran | G | Seattle / Vancouver |
| June 26 | Uruguay vs Spain | H | Houston / Guadalajara |
| June 26 | Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia | H | Houston / Guadalajara |
| June 27 | Panama vs England | L | New York-New Jersey / Philadelphia |
| June 27 | Croatia vs Ghana | L | New York-New Jersey / Philadelphia |
| June 27 | Jordan vs Argentina | J | Kansas City / Dallas |
| June 27 | Algeria vs Austria | J | Kansas City / Dallas |
| June 27 | Colombia vs Portugal | K | Miami / Atlanta |
| June 27 | FIFA Playoff 1 vs Uzbekistan | K | Miami / Atlanta |
Key Stadiums to Watch
- Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) – Host of the opening match and a World Cup legend.
- MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey) – One of the largest venues, hosting key group and knockout games.
- SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles) – A modern masterpiece, known for its immersive fan experience.
- BC Place (Vancouver) and BMO Field (Toronto) – Representing Canada with passionate crowds and scenic views.
What to Expect in the Group Stage
Fans can look forward to:
- Historic firsts, with three host nations co-organizing for the first time.
- Intense continental rivalries as teams from all confederations clash early.
- Increased qualification opportunities, giving emerging nations a chance to shine.
The expanded format ensures every match carries weight, keeping fans engaged from the first whistle to the final group showdown.
Final Thoughts
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage promises unforgettable moments and fierce competition across North America. With world-class stadiums, passionate supporters, and a diverse lineup of nations, the tournament’s opening phase sets the tone for an extraordinary football spectacle. Fans worldwide are counting down the days to witness history unfold from June 11 to June 27, 2026.